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Shameless Plugs: Rothko at the Tate

last updated: 12 October 2008
Rothko - Black on Maroon - Tate
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This is the first in a Shameless Plugs series, and the point of this column is to simply effuse about greatness. There is no sponsorship, no gratis mug, no free ticket. It's simply a shameless sharing of those venues that inspire, delight, entertain and add to your life.
And so we begin with Rothko at the Tate.

Mark Rothko's artwork is one of seeming simplicity but unfathomable sublimity, and as if to prove that London is the centre of the Universe, Rothko's art is coming to town.

Ask people what they draw from a Mark Rothko painting and you will no doubt receive all types of deep and meaningful explanations. All I know is that I was caught by a Rothko print over five years ago whilst flipping disinterestedly through the usual black and white 'emotive' £5 posters, and I was pretty much hypnotised into a staring competition with a Rothko print. Good then that you too can see if Rothko has this effect on you when the Tate Modern hosts an exhibition of his work from 15th September until 1st February.

Rothko had been commissioned in 1959 by the Four Seasons restaurant in New York to produce 600 square feet of paintings, but in an interesting twist, Rothko abruptly withdrew from the commission, returned the money, and later offered nine of the paintings to the Tate as a gift.

Rothko committed suicide in 1970 and on the morning of his death, the paintings arrived in London. These paintings are being exhibited alongside the remainder that were sent to Japan, and so this a good opportunity if you have not before, to enjoy the work of an artist who makes the simple sublime.

And if you're already a fan of Rothko, then it may well be Christmas come early.

Here Is The Writer : Sonny Blue

Sonny Blue Sonny Blue has only recently drifted into the financial arena and thought his timing was actually very good, since he thinks it's a great education to see events unfold from within the eye of the storm. Fortunately he's still practicing his guitar playing should the vortex choose to swallow him. Though he supposes guitars are not of much use in a vortex, but at least they're a comfort.

view more articles by Sonny Blue

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